Ferty



mem rial.

E. S. LAFFERTY.

PORTABLBBATH TQBL N0.438,628. Patntd.0ct.21.1890.

i 7i i i muzz mummil ll I out in the claims.

NITED STATES PATENT OFrIcE.

'ERASTUS SIMONS LAFFERTY, OF INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JACOB SHEASLEY AND L. H. SLAGLE.

PORTABLE BATH-'TU B.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,625, dated October 21, 1890.

Application filed J nne 4, 1890- S To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERASTUS SIMONS LAF- FERTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indiana, in the county of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Bath- Tubs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same;

My invention relates to an improvement in bath-tubs, and more particularly to portable tubs, the object of the invention being to produce a portable bath-tub which shall be of simple durable construction and capable of being folded into compact form.

A further object is to so construct the device that all the legs will be maintained in a fixed position when the device is in use by means of a single locking device.

WVith these objects in view the invent-ion consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of my improvement, showing it in a set-up position. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional View showing the device in a folded position. Fig. 3 is a plan View. Fig. 4 is an end elevation.

A representsa frame composed of side bars a (1, end bars I) b, and connecting-bars c c, the rear inner edges of the side bars a a and forward ends of the connecting-bars c c being beveled, and the beveled edges of these bars are securely fastened together in any suitable manner, as shown in Fig. 3. In the angles formed by the side bars a a and end bar 6, and also at the angles formed by the connecting-bars c c and end bar I), fillingblocks d are located, said blocks being made with curved inner faces to give the frame A proper shape to receive the tub, as presently explained.

In proximity to the forward end of the frame legs B B are hinged to the side bars a a and adapted to be folded up against the under faces of said side bars. The legs B B are pivotally connected, preferably at points erial No. 354,236. (No model.)

near their lower ends, by means of a connectnecting-rod C. At or near the rear end of the side bars a a legs D D are hinged, one leaf of each hinge e, which connects these legs 5 5' to the frame A, being secured to both the side bars a and connecting-bars c. The legs D are preferably made V-shaped, the apexes of which produce the lower ends of said legs. Located between the parts f of the legs D, at or near their lower ends and pivotally connected to said legs, are side connecting-rods E, the other ends of said rods being provided with a strap F, (preferably metallic,) which loosely embraces the end connecting-rod O at a point in proximity to the legs B B, thus producing a pivotal or hinged connection of the rods E to the connecting-rod O.

A tub G, of canvas or other suitable flexible material, is secured at its edges to the inner 7o edges of the frame A by means of suitable fastening devices. A strap hloosely encircles the rod 0, the free ends of said strap being secured to one end of a bar H, the lower end of which bar is concaved to conform to the con- 7 5' tour of rod 0. The bar H is of sufi'icient length to extend to a point near the forward connecting-bar b when the device isin operative position, and is provided with a loop or guide 2'. Pivotally connected at its upper end to the forward end barb is a spring looking bar or plate I, which projects downwardly through the loop or guide 2' and adapted to lie parallel with the under face of the bar H, said bar or plate I being provided at or near its free end with an elongated slot j, adapted to receive a pin or projection 70 on the bar H, and thus produce a catch, said spring-plate I being maintained in engagement with the pin or projection k by the loop or guide 1'. By this construction all the legs will be maintained in a locked upright position, and when it is desired to fold the tub all that is necessary is to release the locking-plate I from the bar II, when the legs may be easily folded. 5

Slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention Without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bath-tub, the combination, with a frame and a flexible tub secured thereto, of a series of pivotally'connected legs hinged to said frame and an extensible locking device connecting said series of legs with the frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bath-tub, the combination, with a frame and a flexible tub secured thereto, of a series of legs hinged to said frame, rods pivotally connecting the legs of the series, and an extensible locking device permanently connecting one of said connecting-rods and the frame, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bath-tub, the combination, with a J. .T. GALL, HUGH S. THOMPSON. 

